Memorial Vigil Honors Bayville Teen After Suicide

BERKELEY, NJ — Dozens of balloons and bubbles floated towards the sky as someone shouted "we love you, Adriana!"

About 100 students, parents and other members of the community had gathered at Veterans Park in Bayville Saturday evening for a vigil for Adriana Kuch. It had only been just over a week since the 14-year-old took her own life after experiencing severe bullying, including a filmed attack shared on social media. Read more: 'We Want Justice': Central Students Protest After Classmate's Death

In spite of the tragedy of the situation, there was a true sense of community present that brought an almost cheerful atmosphere.

Teenagers walked around, passing out bubbles and balloons to complete strangers - all to honor Kuch. Balloons were heart-shaped and star-shaped, and some read "forever in our hearts."

Some brought flowers to lay on the stage at Vets, where posters were set up for Kuch, calling for an end to bullying and inviting guests to share memories of her. Others were holding candles, their hands cupping the flames to keep the cold wind from blowing them out.

But participants weren't just calling for bullying to stop. They also wanted the four involved in the attack on Kuch to be charged, and for the immediate removal of administration.

The four teens have been charged, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer confirmed to Patch, and it was that same evening that Superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides resigned. Read more: Central Superintendent Resigns In Aftermath Of Student Death

Councilman Jim Byrnes, attending with Council President John Bacchione, Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich and Mayor Carmen Amato, held a prayer after the balloons were released, asking that "this will never happen again in our lifetime."

"God bless Adriana," Byrnes added.

"Thank you young kids. If you would have never stepped up, this would have been under the rug," Byrnes said. "God bless you youngsters, too."